Tom Zenk

[TV Rundown] ‘Worldwide Wrestling’ 07.06.1991 – Squashes Galore, Solie Announces Departure

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COMMENTATORS: Tony Schaivone & Gordon Solie

A host of folks are in action this week on Worldwide, including Steve Austin, Big Josh, and The Hardliners. Also on the show we get an announcement about the future of Solie’s broadcasting stint on the show and ABSOLUTELY NO MENTION OF RIC FLAIR VACATING THE WORLD TITLE. 

CHAMPIONS

  • WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Vacant
  • WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Total Package” Lex Luger
  • WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: “Stunning” Steve Austin
  • WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner)
  • WCW UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael “P.S.” Hayes & Jimmy “Jam” Garvin)
  • WCW WORLD SIX MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael “P.S.” Hayes, Jimmy “Jam” Garvin, & Badstreet)

LINEUP

  • Steve Austin vs. Ian Weston
  • PN News vs. Tommy Starr (Power Hour – 07.06.1991)
  • GREAT AMERICAN BASH CONTROL CENTER w/ Paul E. Dangerously
  • Big Josh vs. Tim Frye
  • RINGSIDE INTERVIEW: Tony Schiavone w/ The Z-Man
  • The York Foundation vs. Johnny Rich & Tommy Angel
  • VIDEO: A look at “The Total Package” Lex Luger
  • Nikita Koloff vs. Johnny Meadows
  • Barry Windham vs. Kerry Booth
  • The Hardliners vs. Rob Morgan & Scotty Meadows
  • RINGSIDE INTERVIEW: Tony Schiavone w/ The Yellow Dog

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[TV Rundown] ‘Pro Chicago’ 07.06.1991 – MAJOR WCW SHAKE-UP, Also Squash Matches I Guess

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COMMENTATORS: Tony Schiavone & “The Living Legend” Larry Zbyszko

This week’s Pro features Steve Austin, The Diamond Studd, and others in action plus a Larry Z’s Legends with Johnny B. Badd and oh yeah AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT RIC FLAIR IS GONE FROM WCW AND THE WORLD TITLE HAS BEEN VACATED. Maybe I should’ve led with that.

CHAMPIONS

  • WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Vacant
  • WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Total Package” Lex Luger
  • WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: “Stunning” Steve Austin
  • WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner)
  • WCW UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael “P.S.” Hayes & Jimmy “Jam” Garvin)
  • WCW WORLD SIX MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael “P.S.” Hayes, Jimmy “Jam” Garvin, & Badstreet)

LINEUP

  • Steve Austin vs. Kerry Booth
  • WCW SPECIAL BULLETIN: RIC FLAIR NO LONGER WITH WCW; WORLD TITLE VACATED
  • The York Foundation vs. Larry Santo, Jim Boss, & Greg Sawyer
  • THE GREAT AMERICAN BASH CONTROL CENTER w/ Paul E. Dangerously
  • The Hardliners vs. Pat Rose & Eddie Desmond
  • BRICKHOUSE BONUS w/ Jack Brickhouse
  • One Man Gang vs. John Peterson
  • VIDEO: A special look at Lex Luger
  • Big Josh & Tom Zenk vs. Mark Kyle & Tim Frye
  • LARRY Z’S LEGENDS w/ Larry Zbyszko, Johnny B. Badd, & Theodore R. Long
  • The Diamond Studd vs. Scotty Williams
  • INTERVIEW: Schiavone w/ Missy Hyatt
  • Bobby Eaton vs. Allen Martin (?)

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[TV Rundown] ‘Main Event’ 06.30.1991 – Austin vs. Z-Man, Six Man Tag Team Title Change

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COMMENTATOR: Jim Ross

“Stunning” Steve Austin makes his first defense of the TV Title this week on Main Event against former champion The Z-Man. Also on the show Ric Flair enters THE DANGER ZONE and we finally see how The Fabulous Freebirds won the World SIx Man Tag Team Championship we all forgot existed until they showed up last week wearing the belts (that also didn’t exist until last week).

CHAMPIONS

  • WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair
  • WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Total Package” Lex Luger
  • WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: “Stunning” Steve Austin
  • WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner)
  • WCW UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael “P.S.” Hayes & Jimmy “Jam” Garvin)
  • WCW WORLD SIX MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael “P.S.” Hayes, Jimmy “Jam” Garvin, & Badstreet)

LINEUP

  • PN News vs. Carl Nelson
  • THE GREAT AMERICAN BASH CONTROL CENTER w/ Paul E. Dangerously
  • Johnny B. Badd vs. Larry Santo
  • THE DANGER ZONE w/ Paul E. Dangerously & Ric Flair
  • The Diamond Studd vs. Keith Hart
  • THE DESPERADOS: PART 4
  • Tommy Rich & The Junkyard Dog [c] vs. The Fabulous Freebirds for the WCW WORLD SIX MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (NR)
  • Steve Austin [c] vs. Tom Zenk for the WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP (*3/4)

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[TV Rundown] ‘World Championship Wrestling’ 06.22.1991 – Steiner vs. Slater, DDP & TDS Want Some Z-Man

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COMMENTATORS: Jim Ross & Paul E. Dangerously

This week’s World Championship Wrestling features Rick Steiner taking on Dick Slater, a surprisingly competitive match between Steve Austin and Sam Houston, and the beginnings of a feud that’s very much my sh*t as Diamond Dallas Page & The Diamond Studd make an enemy of the returning Z-Man.

CHAMPIONS

  • WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair
  • WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Total Package” Lex Luger
  • WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton
  • WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner)
  • WCW UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael “P.S.” Hayes & Jimmy “Jam” Garvin)
  • WCW WORLD SIX MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael “P.S.” Hayes, Jimmy “Jam” Garvin, & Badstreet)

LINEUP

  • Sam Houston vs. Steve Austin (**)
  • THE GREAT AMERICAN BASH CONTROL CENTER w/ Paul E. Dangerously
  • Mr. Hughes vs. Joey Maggs
  • IN-RING INTERVIEW: Jim Ross w/ The Z-Man
  • Sting vs. Bob Cook
  • VIGNETTE: The Desperados Part 3
  • Rick Steiner vs. Dick Slater (**1/4)
  • El Gigante vs. J.D. Wolf

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[TV Rundown] ‘World Championship Wrestling’ 06.15.1991 – Knocksville USA Clip Show, Six Man Tag Team Action

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COMMENTATOR: Jim Ross

This week’s World Championship Wrestling is more of a clip show as Ross breaks down the happenings from last Wednesday’s Knocksville USA. We do get a couple of original matches though, including The Fabulous Freebirds making their first appearance as Six Man Tag Team Champs…despite not having won them yet. 

CHAMPIONS

  • WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair
  • WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Total Package” Lex Luger
  • WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton
  • WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner)
  • WCW UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael “P.S.” Hayes & Jimmy “Jam” Garvin)
  • WCW WORLD SIX-MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Badstreet & The Fabulous Freebirds

LINEUP

  • COTC CLIP: Lex Luger vs. Great Muta
  • Tom Zenk vs. Randy Barber
  • THE GREAT AMERICAN BASH CONTROL CENTER w/ Paul E. Dangerously
  • COTC CLIP: Sting vs. Nikita Koloff
  • POST-MATCH COMMENTS: Sting
  • COTC CLIP: Dangerously & Hervey
  • COTC CLIP: Gigante/Pillman vs. Anderson/Windham
  • COTC CLIP: Steiners vs. Chono & Hase; Hardliners post-match attack
  • PROMO: The Hardliners
  • COTC CLIP: Lex Luger vs. The Great Muta
  • COTC CLIP: Ric Flair vs. Bobby Eaton
  • POST-MATCH COMMENTS: Lex Luger
  • POST-MATCH COMMENTS: Ric Flair
  • COTC CLIP: Nikita Koloff attacks Sting
  • Dustin Rhodes & The Young Pistols vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (*3/4)

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[Event Recap] ‘Clash of the Champions XV: Knocksville U.S.A.” – Flair vs. Eaton, Luger vs. Muta, New York Foundation Member Revealed

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DATE: June 12, 1991
VENUE: Civic Auditorium (Knoxville, TN)
COMMENTATORS: Jim Ross & Tony Schiavone

Clash of the Champions XV: Knocksville USA features a gangbuster of a main event as Ric Flair defends the WCW World Heavyweight Championship against Bobby Eaton in a 2 out of 3 Falls match. Also on the show Lex Luger takes on The Great Muta in a #1 Contender’s Match, Sting looks for revenge against Nikita Koloff, and much more!

CHAMPIONS

  • WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair
  • WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Total Package” Lex Luger
  • WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton
  • WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner)
  • WCW UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael “P.S.” Hayes & Jimmy “Jam” Garvin)
  • WCW WORLD SIX-MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Ricky Morton, “Wildfire” Tommy Rich, & The Junkyard Dog

LINEUP

  • Tom Zenk & The Young Pistols vs. Badstreet & The Fabulous Freebirds (**1/2)
  • Johnny Rich vs. Oz (SQUASH)
  • Big Josh vs. Dan Spivey (**)
  • THE DANGER ZONE w/ Paul E. Dangerously & Jason Hervey
  • Dustin Rhodes vs. Terrence Taylor (**)
  • Sting vs. Nikita Koloff (**3/4)
  • IN-RING SEGMENT: PN News w/ Pepa & DJ Spinderella
  • LOSER LEAVES WCW: Brain Pillman & El Gigante vs. Arn Anderson & Barry Windham (***)
  • THE GREAT AMERICAN BASH REPORT w/ Paul E. Dangerously
  • The Steiner Brothers [c] vs. Hiroshi Hase & Masahiro Chono for the IWGP TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (****)
  • Tommy Rich vs. The Diamond Studd (SQUASH)
  • RINGSIDE SEGMENT: The Sting Lookalike Contest Winner
  • #1 CONTENDER’S MATCH: Lex Luger vs. The Great Muta (**1/4)
  • Steve Austin vs. Joey Maggs (SQUASH)
  • IN-RING SEGMENT: New York Foundation Member Revealed (Again)
  • 2 OUT OF 3 FALLS: Ric Flair [c] vs. Bobby Eaton for the WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/2)

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[PPV Recap] ‘SuperBrawl’ – Flair vs. Fujinami, Steiners vs. Sting & Lex Luger, Welcome to Oz!

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DATE: May 19, 1991
VENUE: Bayfront Arena (St. Petersburg, FL)
COMMENTATORS: Jim Ross & “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes

The first annual SuperBrawl features the end to the controversy as Ric Flair takes on Tatsumi Fujinami to decide who the real World Champion is (even though WCW has already said who it was many times over). Also on the show we get an absolute classic of a tag team match, two regular debuts and one absolutely insane debut, and Bobby Eaton gets his big shot at singles stardom.

CHAMPIONS

  • WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair
  • WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Total Package” Lex Luger
  • WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson
  • WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner)
  • WCW UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Vacant
  • WCW WORLD SIX MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Ricky Morton, “Wildfire” Tommy Rich, & Junkyard Dog

LINEUP

  • The Young Pistols vs. The Fabulous Freebirds for the vacant WCW UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (**)
  • Ricky Morton vs. Dan Spivey (*1/2)
  • DEBUT PROMO: Johnny B. Badd & Teddy Long
  • Tommy Rich vs. Nikita Koloff (*3/4)
  • Dustin Rhodes vs. Terrence Taylor (**1/4)
  • Big Josh vs. Black Bart (*1/2)
  • THE DANGER ZONE w/ Paul E. Dangerously & Stan Hansen
  • Oz vs. Tim Parker (SQUASH)
  • TAPED FIST MATCH: Brian Pillman vs. Barry Windham (**3/4)
  • DIAMOND MINE w/ Diamond Dallas Page & The Diamond Studd
  • STRETCHER MATCH: El Gigante vs. Sid Vicious (DUD)
  • THUNDERDOOM CAGE MATCH: Ron Simmons vs. Butch Reed (**3/4)
  • The Steiner Brothers [c] vs. Sting & Lex Luger for the WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (****1/2)
  • Arn Anderson [c] vs. Bobby Eaton for the WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP (**3/4)
  • Ric Flair [c] vs. Tatsumi Fujinami for the WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (***)

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[TV Rundown] ‘Main Event’ 4.28.91 – Sting/Gigante/Pillman vs. Horsemen, JYD vs. OMG

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COMMENTATOR: Jim Ross

This week Main Event adds an extra hour to accommodate two featured matches: Junkyard Dog taking on One Man Gang and a six man tag team match pitting Sting, El Gigante, & Brian Pillman against Ric Flair, Barry Windham, & Arn Anderson. Also on the show Dusty Rhodes has a special interview with Flair, we get more footage from Japan Supershow, and Black Bart makes his spectacular return! Okay maybe I hyperbolized the last one.

CHAMPIONS

  • WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair
  • WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Total Package” Lex Luger
  • WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson
  • WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner)
  • WCW UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CAHMPIONS: Vacant
  • WCW WORLD SIX MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Ricky Morton, “Wildfire” Tommy Rich, & The Junkyard Dog

LINEUP

  • Big Josh vs. Hacksaw Higgins
  • THE DANGER ZONE w/ Paul E. Dangerously & Brian Pillman
  • The Young Pistols vs. Rip Rogers & Jeff Stone
  • Larry Zbyszko vs. Terry Bronson
  • SUPERBRAWL CONTROL CENTER w/ Gordon Solie
  • Sting, El Gigante, & Brian Pillman vs. Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, & Barry Windham (**1/2)
  • FEUD RECAP: Lex Luger vs. Nikita Koloff
  • HANDICAP MATCH: Nikita Koloff vs. Larry Santo & Rick Stockhauser
  • Tom Zenk vs. Brian Carr
  • The Junkyard Dog vs. The One Man Gang (*)
  • Black Bart vs. Joe Cruz
  • CLIP: Ric Flair vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (Japan Supershow)
  • RINGSIDE INTERVIEW: Dusty Rhodes w/ Ric Flair
  • Lex Luger vs. Mike Thor

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[TV Review] Pro – 4.13.91

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Commentators: Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbyszko

This week on Pro the feud between Bobby Eaton, The Z-Man, & The York Foundation continues, The Royal Family shows up to remind us all they’re still employed, Dustin Rhodes stands up to an amused Stan Hansen, and much more!

CHAMPIONS

  • WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair (?)
  • WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Total Package” Lex Luger
  • WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson
  • WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner)
  • WCW UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Vacant
  • WCW WORLD SIX MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Ricky Morton, “Wildfire” Tommy Rich, & The Junkyard Dog

LINEUP

  • Bobby Eaton vs. Terrance Taylor (**)
  • Dustin Rhodes vs. Hacksaw Higgins
  • The Lightning Express vs. The Royal Family (**)
  • SEGMENT: Brickhouse Bonus w/ Jack Brickhouse
  • Ricky Morton & Owen Hart vs. Greg Sawyer & Joey Maggs
  • SEGMENT: SuperBrawl Control Center w/ Gordon Solie
  • Stan Hansen vs. Larry Santo
  • RINGSIDE INTERVIEW: Stan Hansen
  • The Young Pistols vs. Chuck Coats & John Faulkner
  • LARRY Z’S LEGENDS: Larry Zbyszko & Big Josh
  • Sid Vicious vs. Scott Allen

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[PPV Review] WCW/NJPW Japan Supershow I – Flair/Fujinami, Sting/Muta

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Show Date: March 21, 1991
Airdate: April 7, 1991
Venue: Tokyo Dome (Tokyo, Japan)
Commentators: Jim Ross & Tony Schiavone

After weeks of hearing about it in vague terms, now it’s time to see this Japan Supershow for myself. WCW held the event in conjunction with New Japan Pro Wrestling in March, but WCW waited until April to present it to American audiences. Sadly a lot of the matches are clipped and some didn’t even make the PPV. Oh well. Hopefully it’ll still be a fun watch. It’s been awhile since I’ve had a real big show to sink my teeth into, so I’m hungry for it.

NOTE: due to the clipped nature of this event, the ratings presented for most of these matches should be taken with an even bigger grain of salt than usual.

CHAMPION ROLL-CALL

  • WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair
  • IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Tatsumi Fujinami
  • IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Jushin “Thunder” Liger
  • WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner)
  • IWGP TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki

THE LINEUP

  • Brian Pillman, Tom Zenk, & Tim Horner vs. Takayuki Iizuka, Kuniaki Kobayashi, & Shiro Koshinaka (***)
  • Jushin Liger [c] vs. Akira Nogami for the IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (***)
  • Masahiro Chono & Masa Saito vs. Arn Anderson & Barry Windham (***1/2)
  • El Gigante vs. The Big Cat (NR)
  • The Steiner Brothers [WCW] vs. Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki [IWGP] for the WCW and IWGP TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS (****)
  • Sting vs. The Great Muta (***1/2)
  • Ric Flair [WCW] vs. Tatsumi Fujinami [IWGP] for the NWA AND IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS (***)

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